The general strike called for this Wednesday in Spain has had a «virtually negligible» impact on land transport in the Canary Islands, according to the sector’s employers‘ organisation.
The Canary Islands Transport Operators‘ Federation (FET) has highlighted in a statement «the generally calm atmosphere» that has characterised this day of strike action on the islands, where the non-scheduled passenger transport service provided by private coaches has operated «with a full complement of staff, meaning the strike has had no impact whatsoever» in this sub-sector.
The employers‘ organisation points out that Wednesday is one of the special activity days for tourism in Gran Canaria and stresses that «services are being provided as normal».
Canary Islands: School buses are running and freight transport is operating without any disruption caused by the strike
With regard to school transport, the Canary Islands Government has ordered 100 per cent of minimum services to be maintained, «meaning that all staff were required to report for work, which has been carried out as normal».
The FET has stated that this service has been used by an average of 30 per cent of pupils, following a decision by their families.
It also points out that «freight transport companies have seen virtually no impact from the strike».
Ports are refusing to allow freight forwarders to drop off or collect containers
However, it highlighted the situation at ports managed by Puertos del Estado, which does not affect safety, but does affect logistics operations: the lack of minimum services «clearly defined by the relevant public authorities is leading to container terminals refusing to hand over or collect goods from hauliers without providing reliable evidence of the reason for such refusals of service».
The employers‘ organisation has condemned a «legal vulnerability that is causing utter confusion amongst haulage companies and customers in sectors such as retail, industry and construction».
Gran Canaria: Police break up bus service blockades
Regarding the picket lines detected today, it referred to those organised in the early hours of the morning at Mercalaspalmas, where an attempt was made «to prevent lorries carrying perishable goods from entering or leaving», which the police facilitated, and the one at the Global depot in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where «they were constantly loitering at the gate to prevent buses from leaving», although «the police cleared the area and there was only a delay in the departure of the services».
In its report, the FET also referred to another picket line at San Telmo bus station, where an attempt was made to disrupt bus services by continuously crossing the pedestrian crossings«, a situation which was also «brought under control by the police».
With regard to acts of vandalism, the employers‘ organisation has referred to the section of the GC-1 motorway between the Vecindario shopping centre and the Juan Grande crushing plant, where last night «large triangular metal pieces were scattered with the intention of puncturing the tyres of passing vehicles, posing a consequent risk to people’s lives».
These same sharp objects have been found at public transport stops, according to the business organisation.
In addition, an empty Global bus that was out of service was pelted with stones, causing the windows to shatter; however, no one was injured.
Tenerife and La Palma report no incidents of vandalism
In the western province, the impact of this general strike on land transport «is similar to that seen in the province of Las Palmas, including the situation at the ports».
There have been no reports of acts of vandalism on these islands, and the FET emphasises that the weather warning affecting them «is having a decisive influence on the assessment of the strike», due to the suspension of face-to-face classes on La Palma and Tenerife and because, in the face of the bad weather, the public is avoiding non-essential travel and has opted to work from home wherever possible.
According to the FET, 10 per cent of pupils in the Verde Islands have used school transport.
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